I was walking to Prince Sepo's chamber when a maidservants approached me.
" My prince said to inform you, he waited for you but has been called by the Queen, and he has left for the Queen's quarters. But he said to tell you, he hopes to find you when he comes back."
"Ok " I said, glad he wasn't around.
Indeed, Prince Sepo waited for me but, I with my revenge plans, was having cold feet and had delayed going back to his chamber after my bath.
Prince Sepo had provided me with new clothing of a white musinsi and ivory ornaments with crocodile sandles, I wore those and left for the farm huts to visit Thabo and Little Lugi.
" What happened to you?why are you dressed like that?" Thabo inquired, not giving me time for comfort.
"Nothing" I replied avoiding eye contact.
"Nothing? you left with Prince Sepo this morning and you come dressed like that, but nothing happened?"
I looked at her and not wanting to lie to her, I whispered.
"I got married to Prince Sepo at the Oracle's shrine" I said with a grin.
"The same Prince Sepo getting married today?"
I nodded. Thabo has been like a big sister to me and I knew she would look out for me.
" Your life was nearly taken in Seke, but against all odds, the King saved you and here, you go and do things that will get you killed even faster? why Zae...No why Princess Zae?"
"Because Prince Sepo is useful to me right now?I don't care if he marries Princess Mokomena too. Actually I want him to marry her so I can personally deal with her here."
I said near tears.
"Is that how little you think about marriage?a tool for revenge? Your ancestors must be gnashing their teeth and prostrating themselves in the dirt attoning for your inequalities".
What do you want me to do, I haven't slept like I used to for weeks, I can't sleep, vividly Looking at my father's face the last time I saw my King... My Queen too...I couldn't apologize for pushing a woman who gave me life to the floor that night, can't I do this much to avenge their deaths?" I said crying.
"Everyone knew my father was a just man, he fought when it was necessary, he punished by death only the most atrocious deeds. Why would he die in such a repugnant manner, if they had asked for war, he would have gladly accepted. No matter the circumstances behind their attack, it was murder". My voice constrained as tears spew uncontrollably.
Thabo was speechless, because she knew I was right, she didn't agree with my method but she was going to support me anyway.
It was at this moment that I staggered, falling to the ground with a turd, my heart was hurting horribly, I couldn't breath, the feeling I had felt Looking into Prince Sepo's eyes on our engagement day at ten years old.
"What is happening to me?"
words I wanted to say outloud but couldn't as I slowly entered a deep dark route and emerged to a sitting Kuku and the great one in Prince Sepo's ladies' s quarter.
They looked as supprised as I was.
"I didn't heal anyone, why am I here?"I asked. visibly shaken.
I looked at Kuku, it felt good to see someone from my family, even though dead but I was panicking.
"We don't know, who was near you, did you look into their eyes?"
" It was just Thabo, and she was just fine, she is not sick".
"Maybe it's Nyambe's punishment for your insolence" the great one said with a smirk.
" I can't be bothered by your thoughts, old woman"I said wipping the smirk off of her face. I heard her gasp in shock.
"You are still a disrespectful child"
"Only to those acting like they are Nyambe himself, but actually are slowly becoming manure"
Kuku slapped me, she was dead but it hurts so much, I clasped my cheek and looked at her angrily.
" Your mother is ashamed of you, she did not teach you to be disrespectful and use other people for your gain."
At the mention of my mother, tinny spear jubs pierced my heart. Kuku needed not say that, it was a fresh wound that she picked at and was now bleeding.
" I am my mother's child and she will be proud of me when she understands eventually"
Who was I lying to? well not these dead women , who obviously sees my mother in the realm of the dead.
"Am sorry." I said without thinking about why I was saying it.
"Am sorry Kuku."
"Am sorry mom, I didn't mean to push you, but please don't forgive my unfilial piety." I said as bowed down on my knees head on the floor to no one in particular. I screamed in anguish, an agony I had tried so had to push away from me since my parents died. Kuku lifted me by my shoulders and shook me. She lifted my chin with her finger so that I was forced to meet her dead eyes.
" Control your self, you are Nyambe's Oracle now."
I pulled away from her."
" No, no am not." My throat tightened. I was still angry with Kuku, I didn't choose to be an Oracle, I didn't want her to think what she did was ok.
I sat on the ground facing Kuku and the great one and cried.
prior to me meeting Kuku, after waiting for me for some time and worrying about why I was taking long, Prince Sepo had decided, we where going to consumate our union after taking care of Prince Mokomena at the Queen's quarters.
He'd gone to the Queen's quarters but The king was already there. The hand maiden knowing the Queen had sent for him didn't announce his arrival. He raised his fist to knock on the door of the chamber but his fist remained poised."Who is he going to marry after Princess Mokomena's death?"The king had asked.
"We will think about that tomorrow morning, when we get there. I just want my son to be cured and I don't care who am sacrificing, you can think of it as the Letuyako Kingdom paying for my brother's murder."
"But won't they think,we killed their daughter in retaliation?" the King asked
" No, their Oracle will tell them otherwise because he will know it was the curse that killed her. She is so unlucky, that Mokomena. I really wanted Zae to pay her parents debt to me by healing my son"
" What do you mean mother?" He barged into the chamber.